Enzyme analyses demonstrate that beta-methylbutyric acid is converted to beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid via the leucine catabolic pathway by galactomyces reessii
Galactomyces reessii accomplishes the enzymatic transformation of beta-methylbutyric acid (isovaleric acid) to beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid. The enzymatic basis for this bioconversion was evaluated by analyzing cell-free extracts of G. reessii for enzyme activities commonly associated with leucine catabolism. G. reessii extracts contained activities for acyl-CoA synthetase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and enoyl-CoA hydratase, whereas beta-methylbutyric acid hydroxylase, alpha-ketoisocaproate oxygenase, and acyl-CoA oxidase (with isovaleryl-CoA as substrate) were not observed. Furthermore, beta-methylbutyric acid is initially activated to isovaleryl-CoA by acyl-CoA synthetase, dehydrogenated to methylcrotonyl-CoA by acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, hydrated to beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid-CoA by enoyl-CoA hydratase, and hydrolyzed to beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid in G. reessii extracts. Cell-free extracts converted both isovaleryl-CoA and methylcrotonyl-CoA into beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid, thus demonstrating that beta-methylbutyric acid is part of the leucine catabolic pathway. The rate of beta-methylbutyric acid conversion to beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid with cell-free extract was 0. 013 &mgr;mol beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid (mg protein)-1 h-1, while the conversion rate of leucine was fivefold lower. With whole cells, the highest production rate [0.042 &mgr;mol beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid (g cells)-1 h-1] was also observed with beta-methylbutyric acid. The results indicate that beta-methylbutyric acid is transformed to beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid through the leucine catabolic pathway.
Lee
IY
Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry and The Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing, College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5000, USA.
Rosazza
JPN